Cameron Deyell is a composer, guitarist and ocean sailor.
He produces and composes music, and is featured as a producer/ performer on Sia’s Grammy nominated, platinum selling album ‘This Is Acting’ (#1 UK, #4 USA).
Cameron has worked with a diverse group of artists including: Liars (US); Justin Stanley (Prince, Beck, US); François Tétaz (Gotye); Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, US); Jasper Leak (Sia, Tegan & Sara); Missy Higgins; Jon Cowherd (Brian Blade, Cassandra Wilson, US), Jonathan Maron (Meshell Ndegeocello, Tupac, US); Nick Zinner (Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, US); Holy Sons (US); Workman Song (US); Tina Harrod, and Sally Seltmann (New Buffalo).
Cameron has performed and recorded with some of Australia’s leading jazz and classical ensembles, including Mike Nock's Big Small Band, the catholics, Sandy Evans, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. With Matt Keegan’s The Three Seas, he recorded the album ‘Haveli’ in the Rajasthani desert with a group of Bengali folk musicians. He was co-Artistic Director of the Japan Australia Jazz Orchestra, which performed at Tokyo Jazz Festival (2006), Artistic Director of Sydney's Jazzgroove Association (2004-06) and founding co-Artistic Director of the Jazz:Now Festival at the Sydney Opera House (2004).
Cameron’s work as a performer-composer for his Sunken Songs project - a re-imagination of historical sea shanties - has received funding from the Australia Council for the Arts and the City Of Melbourne.
He has a decade long creative relationship with multiple Aria award winner Katie Noonan. He has also co-written, recorded and performed on the last 3 albums by Aria winner Lior. He made 2 albums with Aria winner Bertie Blackman and in 2017 performed on Jessica Lea Mayfield’s critically acclaimed album ‘Sorry is Gone’ (ATO Records) produced by John Angelo (Kurt Vile), with Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and Seth Avett. From 2014-17 he was a member of New York-based indie band Streets of Laredo (Dine Alone Records). Streets performed on the mainstage at Governor’s Ball in NYC and toured extensively throughout North America and Europe, including with CRX (Nick Valensi, The Strokes), Kaiser Chiefs and Shakey Graves.
From 2015-17 Cameron was band leader of the New York monthly indie stand up comedy night, Great Times with Cory & Kevin (Critic’s Pick comedy show, NY Mag). The show featured comedians including Jim Gaffigan, Mike Birbiglia and Janeane Garofalo. Cameron has performed on many film and tv soundtracks including: Whiskey Cavalier (ABC USA, 2019); Every Day (Orion, 2018) The Get Down (Netflix, 2016); The Affair (Showtime, 2015); Paper Planes (2015); Hesher (2011); Feed (2005); and Puppy (2004). From 2003-06 Cameron was a composer in residence for experimental improvised theatre company Is Theatre Ltd in Hobart, Tasmania, under artistic director Ryk Goddard.
In 2011-13 while living in New Delhi, Cameron composed and recorded a suite of songs under the moniker Totara Jack. In 2014 he performed in venues around New York City and at the CMJ Music Festival. The Deli Mag (NYC) describes “his distinct haunted sound… delivers an unforgettable debut” and Sia tweeted “ooo my new favorite artist is Totara Jack, how exciting!”
In 1998, Cameron was awarded a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (First Class Honours) from the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide and studied at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with jazz guitar legend Kenny Burrell. At UCLA, Cameron was twice admitted to the UCLA Dean's honours list for academic achievements in music. Cameron is currently a post-graduate researcher in Interactive Compostion at University of Melbourne.
While living in India, Cameron rode a classic Royal Enfield motorcycle through the Himalayas. After living in the USA he returned home by sailing his 41 foot yacht Boombox across the Pacific, from Mexico through French Polynesia and on to Fiji.
“…Deyell’s multi-talented wizardry (is) chameleon-like, serving as an immaculately fabricated backbone no matter the song’s mood… with this album Liars make a compelling case for another 20 years of existence.”
Spectrum Culture review of The Apple Drop
"guitarist Cameron Deyell added an effects laden, slow-motion, low register guitar solo that was like a surprise lighting change on a scene in a play”
John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald review of Charlie’s Time Is Up.
"the gloves came off for a Deyell solo that was as raw and brutal as it was sophisticated”
John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald review of Trophy Girl.
“…horny-handed guitar from Cameron Deyell…providing a slap of early 90’s Bowie.”
Bernard Zuel, review of City Of Longing.
“(it’s in the) spidery guitar lines, doomy riffs and sinister intonations – that Liars’ sulphurous power truly resides, delivering a deliciously unsettling and artful listening experience.”
Mojo Magazine review of The Apple Drop
“...strangely hilarious, irreverent, and above all, fresh-sounding”
Pitchfork review of This Is Acting.
“…a thrillingly intimate album … ending with the startlingly slurred break-up song "Space Between", if this is acting, then what would she be like doing it for real?” 4 stars
The Independent review of This Is Acting.
